Thursday, April 20, 2017

Drivetrains at Keyes Honda

At
Keyes Honda, when our customers are searching for a new or used Honda vehicle,
one thing we often discuss is the drivetrain available on certain vehicles. The
terms four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive
are all disused and we understand that it can be slightly confusing trying to
navigate between the differences. We hope that this overview will help break
down the basics of the drivetrain options available.

The
basic drivetrain option available on most passenger cars sold in the U.S. today
is a two-wheel-drive system in which the entire drive package—engine, transmission, differential, and the wheels that are
driven by the engine—are in the front of the vehicle. This
is called front-wheel drive (FWD). Some vehicles are equipped with a different
two-wheel-drive system called rear-wheel drive (RWD). It differs from FWD in that
a long driveshaft transmits power from the engine in the front of the vehicle
to the driven wheels at the back (versus the front two wheels).

For
those looking for a more dynamic driving experience should look at vehicles
equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD). By distributing traction equally among all
four tires, AWD systems improve the driving experience by providing better
traction and handling. AWD can also improve handling in poor weather
conditions. This driving system is great to have if you like having increased
control around the bends and turns of the road. The Honda CR-V and Honda
Ridgeline both have capable AWD systems.

If
you are considering taking your vehicle off-road or using your vehicle for
towing, then a vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive (4WD) should be on your
list. 4WD also engages all four tires and provides better traction and towing.
Like AWD, it is a good feature to have in difficult weather conditions like
snow, and will help power the vehicle on rocky or uneven ground.